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The city of Fairbury is working on expanding their borders. On Tuesday the local governing body set March 3 at 7:30 p.m. as the time and date for a public hearing for a new annexation project.

According to city zoning administrator Laura Bedlan the pending project encompasses business and land along the city's northeast corridor.

"What we're looking at from a business standpoint is an area that takes in Countryside Vet Clinic, Ace Hardware, Fairbury Coop as well as the Fairbury Rural Fire building, the former Massey Ferguson dealership and land owned by Northgate Development," she said.

Bedlan said the hearing will be open for public comment by anyone, not just those who would be affected by the pending project.

"We've had a couple of people come in and ask some questions about this project but no one has been in and said they are opposed to it so far," she said.

The city of Fairbury is working on expanding their borders. On Tuesday the local governing body set March 3 at 7:30 p.m. as the time and date for a public hearing for a new annexation project.

According to city zoning administrator Laura Bedlan the pending project encompasses business and land along the city's northeast corridor.

"What we're looking at from a business standpoint is an area that takes in Countryside Vet Clinic, Ace Hardware, Fairbury Coop as well as the Fairbury Rural Fire building, the former Massey Ferguson dealership and land owned by Northgate Development," she said.

Bedlan said the hearing will be open for public comment by anyone, not just those who would be affected by the pending project.

"We've had a couple of people come in and ask some questions about this project but no one has been in and said they are opposed to it so far," she said.

The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office is conducting two investigations on a pair of scams that have infiltrated this area.

According to Sheriff Nels Sorensen his office has received a large number of complaints in recent months regarding scams and fraud.

"There has been a scam in the area that tells citizens they owe money to the Internal Revenue Service," Sorensen said. "In one case someone was told if they do not pay this money they will be arrested."

Sorensen stresses that the IRS does not contact people by phone if they owe them money.

"All dealings they will have with the Internal Revenue Service should start with a certified letter that comes from the Internal Revenue Service."

A representative from the Village of Plymouth went to the Jefferson County Commissioners last week hoping to get a commitment for financial assistance on a local road project. What he got instead was a fairly short and sweet, "no."

Plymouth Village Board member Fred Meyer told county commissioners that because of increases traffic on the road that connect Highway 136 with Highway 4, approximately six blocks of blacktop that runs through Jefferson County's second largest community is "getting pretty beat up." He said increased semi traffic is the primary cause for the road woes in Plymouth.

State of Nebraska Highway Engineer Rex Behrends said that while the six blocks that needs repair is owned by the village of Plymouth, most of the damage comes from what he called out of county truck traffic.

A 71-year old Reynolds man was taken to Jefferson Community Health Center in Fairbury on Tuesday following a car/semi accident on Highway 8 just east of Reynolds.

According to the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office a vehicle driven by Jimmy Groathouse of Reynolds struck from behind a 1970 Peterbilt semi with trailer. The sheriff’s office said the semi truck driven by Roger Weathersbee, 31, or Concordia, KS., had stopped to lock the axles for traction and was starting to proceed when he was hit by Groathouse.

Because of near white out conditions Groathouse was unable to see the semi or trailer. The vehicle driven by Groathouse was considered a total loss. The semi suffered minor damage. Groathouse was taken to JCHC for non life threatening injuries.

Fairbury's Pla Mor Lanes is back in business. The downtown bowling alley officially opened last Friday to a large crowd after a soft opening on Thursday. Owners said the venue offers eight lanes for bowling and snacks including pop, candy and pretzels. The cafe is expected in the next two months.

Nathan Rogers, who owns the business with his brother, Jason, and father, David, all of Gilead, said all bowling lanes were full from 4-8 p.m. on Friday, and the business continued to be “swamped” all day Saturday. Sunday's crowd was slightly lighter but still kept the Rogers busy, Nathan Rogers said.

The family bought the business at auction in October and had hoped to open the cafe and bowling alley at the same time, Nathan Rogers said. When people expressed their desire to have the bowling alley open as soon as possible the family focused on getting it ready first.

​Linda Bauer and Laura Ebke, along with their brother Barry Schwab, not pictured, are following in the footsteps of their parents and grandparents. Ron Schwab, above, and Gwen Schwab, not pictured, attribute their children's work ethic and participation in local organizations and government to grandparents and the Fairbury community. Photo by Cynthia Scheer/Fairbury Journal-News

Gwen Schwab said all five of her children were eager to get out of Fairbury when they left for college. She didn’t expect them to move back and raise families in the area.

Three of them have.

Linda Bauer and Barry Schwab have returned to their hometown while Laura Ebke lives in Crete. But both Gwen Schwab and Ron Schwab are quick to deny credit for raising children who have become prominent and contributing members to their hometown community. The credit, they said, goes to hard-working grandparents and character built by life in the small town.

“Every one of my children has a great work ethic,” Gwen Schwab said. “That can’t be taught by a mom or a dad.”

Feb. 4: Report of a traffic stop in the 800 block of L Street. The driver did not have a license, and the vehicle was towed.

Feb. 4: Report of a theft in Fairbury.

Feb. 4: Victoria L. West, of Fairbury, was driving a 2004 Chevrolet owned by Brian Vculek, of Fairbury, through the parking lot near 22nd Street and H Street when the vehicle slid on the ice and collided with a parked 2006 Ford owned by Rick Robertson, of Fairbury. Damages to Robertson's vehicle were estimated at $1,200. There were no damages to Vculek's vehicle.

Students at Central Elementary and Jefferson Intermediate have again participated in the Valentines for Veterans project. They joined other elementary schools in the area in creating a total of 1,333. The special valentines were delivered to the Veterans Homes in Grand Island (400) and Bellevue (200) and to the Omaha VA hospital (733). Students at both Fairbury schools were joined by students from Superior, Hebron, Deshler, Diller-Odell, Meridian and Geneva. This is the fourth year Fairbury students have participated in the special project. This community service project lets our veterans know they are not forgotten and give our students a way to say thank you for the sacrifices the veterans have made.

Fairbury Jr/Sr High School students of the month include: Seventh Graders: Izze Schwab, daughter of Brooke & Barry Schwab, Joseph Melcher, son of Cindy & Bill Melcher. Eighth graders: Trevin Arnold, son of Tami Haverkamp & Travis Arnold, Delaney Miller, daughter of Jerry & Heidi Miller. Students of the Month are nominated by their teachers based on work ethic and behaviors in the classroom. Contributed Photo